It All Begins

I had to have an old suitcase for who knows what now, but I was on a mission. I drove over to a favorite place where I often found unique old treasures. As I walked up the steps I saw a “Going out of business” sign. What? This can’t be…

I approached the owner who was obviously worn out from so many others asking the same question. She really didn’t want to talk. I stood there looking around and said dreamily, I’ve always wanted to have a shop like this. “Well why don’t you buy it?” she said persuasively.

“How much do you want for it and what’s included?” I was being pretty bold for just being out shopping for a suitcase turned business.

She gave me the price and rundown. I told her I would talk to my husband and get back to her that night.

I went home with visions of sugar plums in my head and approached my husband. Surprisingly he thought it sounded like a reasonable deal. He has always supported me with my dreams and stepped out big time here. I couldn't believe it. We called her and told her we were interested and would go to the bank the next day, run the numbers and see what was possible. Within two weeks I was the owner of my own small business, Dandelion Bouquet. The work had just begun. I wasn’t looking for this… it really just dropped into my lap. And I started running.

Now I have to tell you about my friend Vicky. Her and I always talked about having a shop like this and we all need friends to come beside us, friends who believe in us and our dreams. I called her and she was beside me every step working like crazy to help me clean and open up. I couldn’t have done it without her–and my nephew who happened to be in town for a few months with little to do and an aunt who had a lot to do. He didn’t have to, but he did. I’m so grateful for friends and family who were willing to lend a hand to help me embark on this adventure that was feeling more overwhelming by the minute.

We scrubbed, we cleaned, painted, hauled, painted some more, arranged and rearranged.

I inherited with the shop a lot of items that were not within my line of vision–honestly I didn’t even know what some of it was! All of that had to be moved for a possible later date when I wanted to sell a thing-a-ma-jig or an old broken down… something…. Now I had a shop and a storage unit;

I don’t think it’s uncommon to jump into a big decision with gusto and then think…. What was I thinking? My emotions were up and down but I plugged on.

If we never jump we’ll never know what it means to fly. I jumped all right. I was flapping… would I fly?